Editor's Message: 6-Month Review - June 2022

The first half of 2022 certainly has been busy! As businesses fully reopen and people around the world begin to explore life in the new normal, the Domestic Preparedness Journal has been exploring its new normal as well. The journal was launched in 1998 to bridge the communication and collaboration gaps between disciplines and across jurisdictions. While the journal has now been entrusted to a new steward, the mission of bridging gaps across disciplines and jurisdictions remains the same. 

USDA Announces New SARS-COV-2 Research Funding Opportunity Through the American Rescue Plan Act

he U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced it will commit up to $24 million for research grants through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the National Science Foundation Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program. These grants will support research that directly aligns with APHIS’ American Rescue Plan strategic framework and will support APHIS and its One Health partners’ efforts to identify risks and plan effective interventions to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the human-animal interface and to prevent impacts to the food supply.

FEMA Needs to Improve Oversight and Management of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Property Acquisitions

Through grants to states, FEMA uses the HMGP to purchase properties that are flood damaged or in flood-prone areas, demolish any structures on them, and ensure they are maintained forever as open space. FEMA has acquired more than 32,000 properties for open space since 1989. This audit was conducted to determine whether FEMA is properly using the HMGP for property acquisitions. FEMA made four recommendations to help FEMA strengthen its property acquisition activities in this report. 

FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age.

Building Capability: Zero Tolerance vs. Acceptability

A tool designed with zero tolerance would not be able to function efficiently or effectively. Likewise, taking a zero-tolerance approach to emergency preparedness and response has led to some problematic policies and procedures. This article explains why building in some level of acceptability would make policies and procedures more effective and communities more resilient.

Article Out Loud - Building Capability: Zero Tolerance vs. Acceptability

Working Together: Partnership, Training, Funding & Tolerance

When community stakeholders work together to prepare for emergencies and disasters, they will be better prepared and have more resources to face whatever threats, risks, and hazards are in their future. Four key aspects to consider when building community resilience are addressed in this June edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal: public-private partnerships, training, funding, and tolerance.

Public Safety Grant Programs Changes – A 10-Year Review

Public safety agencies require funding to support their operations. Government grants provide opportunities to build preparedness and response programs and strengthen community resilience. However, the grant process has changed over the years. This article helps agencies navigate the current competitive grant process and improve their chances of receiving much-needed funding.

Article Out Loud - Public Safety Grant Programs Changes – A 10-Year Review

New Digital Indoor Mapping Capability Now Available for First Responders

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate funded the development of a cloud-based capability that enables first responders to review and analyze indoor floor plans in real-time when responding to incidents.

DHS S&T Publishes the Resilient PNT Reference Architecture and Update to Conformance Framework

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has published the Resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Reference Architecture. The document incorporates modern cybersecurity principles to provide concepts and examples for building Next Generation Resilient PNT systems against current and future threats.

Article Out Loud - Correlation Between Land Use Decisions & Recovery Efforts

Article Out Loud - Emerging Homeland Security Issues – A 2018 Panel Review

Statement from HHS Secretary Becerra on the CDC Decision to Rescind the Order Requiring Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing Prior to Flight to the U.S.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that – based on science and available data – pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers will no longer be required

Wildland Urban Interface: A Look at Issues and Resolutions

FEMA/DHS/USFA developed the “Wildland Urban Interface: A Look at Issues and Resolutions” to stimulate action by raising awareness of the crisis that our nation faces related to wildfire in the wildland urban interface and lay out a unified, strategic approach to risk reduction at the national, state, regional and local levels. 

The Risk-Based Approach to Hazardous Material/WMD Incidents

Low-frequency, high-consequence events are rare, emergency responders still need to be able to evaluate these complex problems and determine initial actions. To avoid being overwhelmed and increasing the risks to both responders and civilians, emergency responders need to be able to quickly identify all potential hazards, then predict the outcome when a hazardous material or weapon of mass destruction¬ (WMD) incident occurs. This article explains how a risk-based approach will better prepare responders for future situations.

Article Out Loud - The Risk-Based Approach to Hazardous Material/WMD Incidents

Article Out Loud - Apples & Oranges - Understanding Curies & REM in Radiation Sources

Article Out Loud - Cascadia Catastrophe - Not If, But When

IHS Allocates $700 Million From President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Improve Tribal Water and Sanitation Systems

The funding allocation will provide 71,000 American Indian and Alaska Native homes with critical services like water wells and onsite wastewater disposal systems and connections to community water supply and wastewater disposal systems.

DHS S&T Helps Keep Communities Safe from Chemical Hazards During Hurricane Season

Extreme weather from hurricanes and tropical storms can devastate communities along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, and the threat of subsequent hazard chemical releases can be just as deadly. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) actively anticipates and prepares for this possibility.

How the Best Get Better: Partnerships & a Trifecta Disaster

Japan is more prepared for future disasters due to communications and annual investments into exercises and drills with local and international partners. Tokyo Disney Resort leveraged private-public partnerships to increase preparedness in employees, guests, business services, critical infrastructure facilities, and government stakeholders to manage future disruptions caused by natural disasters. A private-public partnership helped align business needs and supported risk-information decision-making during a complex, large-scale disaster.

Article Out Loud - How the Best Get Better: Partnerships & a Trifecta Disaster